Regardless of what happens the rest of this NLCS, the Milwaukee Brewers must find a way, any way, to get out of the first inning.
The St. Louis Cardinals have quickly erased that initial goose egg in every game thus far.
Wednesday night was, perhaps, the most egregious example.
The Cards roughed up starter Yovani Gallardo for four runs, including more damage by Albert Pujols.
The Red Birds made it stand up and took Game Three, 4-3, at Busch Stadium.
With the victory, St. Louis takes a 2-1 lead in the series and put itself in a position to win without having to return to Milwaukee.
Milwaukee did finally figure out a way to neutralize Pujols. The Crew walked the slugger twice with first base open.
A new nemesis has surfaced in the person of David Freese.
Freese chipped in with three hits and has emerged as a big-time threat in this series.
This was supposed to be a pitchers' duel.
Chris Carpenter, coming off a 1-0, complete game NLDS clincher in Philadelphia; was not on top of his game.
Gallardo has struggled against St. Louis in his career, with just one win and seven losses. Make that 1-8.
In this, the first big test for rookie Brewer Manager Ron Roenicke; some questions arose about tonight's lineup.
Given that Nyjer Morgan has struggled at the plate and in center field in Game Two, Roenicke went with Mark Kotsay.
Kotsay's base-running mistake in the first snuffed out an opportunity for the Brewers to score in the first and misplayed a ball allowing the Cards to score.
There was a bit of redemption for him in the third inning with a solo homer, but it wasn't enough to expunge the bad taste in the mouths of the faithful.
Many thought that Carlos Gomez's defense would have been the smarter move.
It is doubtful that Gomez would have missed making the catch and unlikely with his speed that he would have gotten picked off getting back to second on the shallow pop fly.
The 'R-word' hasn't been bandied about for a while and wouldn't have been now had they won, but as his team gets deeper into the playoffs, the scrutiny gets magnified to power resembling the Hubble Telescope.
Carpenter only lasted five innings, but he used a nasty curve to get out Rickie Weeks to end his night and may have preserved his victory in that one at bat.
The Cardinal pitcher had surrendered three homers and seven hits in his 11 at bats prior to this game.
Weeks struck out with Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder on board with two out in the eight inning, snuffing out the last, best chance for the Brewers to win.
The surprise on the Milwaukee side of the equation has been Yuniesky Betancourt. Yuni-B was 2-for-4 with a couple of RBI. Fielder took the collar with a strikeout in the eighth.
The Brewers will try to regain home field advantage on Thursday night under the Arch.
Randy Wolf will go for the Crew and Kyle Lohse takes the bump for the Cards.
One thing has become crystal clear: the Brewers just have to get out of the first frame relatively unscathed.
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